Wednesday 28 September 2011

You Better Be*Wreath* Me ...

Happy Day! 

Well, it appears that I'm adding "adventures in custom wreaths" to my craziness!  What started as a few close friends asking me to make wreaths for them has now grown into something fun that I wasn't expecting!  I thought I'd share a few orders I recently completed:

My sweet friend ordered a "bridal room" wreath, which, even though I live in the South, I've never heard of one(!).  So, here's my version ... thought I'd incorporate the colors of the wedding. 


Had to brainstorm to create the centerpiece:


"Happy Fall" to a great family who is, hopefully, enjoying this wreath.


"Go Noles" ... ordered by my sweet friend, Melanie, at Southern Comforts in a Northern Life:


My son insisted I make a Halloween one for our door:



Mr. Spider slowly creeping his way around the wreath:


I created this for my friend's fabulous insurance company "Beach Benefits:"


"Go Packs" ... ordered by another sweet friend:


And, we can't forget USC Gamecocks, which another friend is proudly displaying.  Actually, she's not too happy about these as she is a Clemson fan ... her husband ordered these without her knowledge.  LOL!


This Fall wreath is on its way to Maryland:


And, "Go Steelers" ... this one is now on a friend's front door in VA:


Needless to say, I'm so excited that I've gotten several more orders for Fall and Christmas wreaths, and, as soon as I complete them, I hope to open an Etsy store ... got lots of wreath ideas swirling in my head and can't wait to bring them to fruition!  

Linking up to:

Kristens Creations/Share your Creations
2805/Potpourri Friday

French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home/Show and Tell Friday


Thanks for stopping by,



Inlaid Table ~ Deja-vu

I just experienced Deja-vu, but this was REAL not an illusion of feeling. I am talking about two tables that have come into my life with-in a month of each other but miles apart. Here is my first one...
I am sure my blog followers remember this one. See the before shot? Notice the top and how the inlay was so far gone that it couldn't be saved? You also see my solution for its rebirth.

Well,

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Our "I Give Up" Fall Mantel ...

Happy *official* Fall Y'all!  Deep rich colors are popping up alllll over blogland now, and I.love.it.  Too bad it's still hot out!

Okay, after our mantel from last year was selected to be featured on Better Homes and Gardens website (BHG.com) as part of this year's Fall inspirational slideshow, admittedly, I found myself thinking "no WAY" will my creative juices be flowing this year.  So, after tweaking ... and tweaking ... and tweaking, I gave up!  Alas, here is our "I give up" Fall mantel:


I have to give the initital *shout out* to the bee-you-tee-ful iron piece that stands center stage on the mantel ... what can I say(?), Home Goods rocks!


I added lit branches to this simple arrangement in a cream pitcher (which I also wrapped twine) ... LOVE how they glow at night.  And, I found this handsome birdie at Hobby Lobby ... I was instantly attracted to his beautiful warm colors:


This "Welcome Harvest" sign was also purchased at HL ... and, the garland below is much like last year's, except I removed the lights and added larger pumpkins:


This cloche, containing lots of smaller pumpkins/leaves, is perched on old books, which I turned so that the pages are facing out:


I hot glued an apothcary jar to this tall candlestick ... threw in some corn, a battery operated monogrammed candle and large bow (with Fall sprig) and call it *a day:*


Down below, our chair now has a coral pillow and simple cream pillow, which I added a burlap bow:


And, woohoo, I discovered this vintage tool box planter hiding at Tuesday Morning (my apologies to whomever hid it to come back and purchase later ... you see, I'm one of those sneaky "hide while I think about it" shoppers, too ... do NOT hide items like this ... I will find it.)  LOL !!


Annnnnd, lastly, a simple white pumpkin topiary sits atop a grapevine wreath, raffia and leaves:


Oh ... and, I did bring back the wooden bead garland that I made last year:


I can't wait to see everyone's mantels!  I'm linking up with:

The Lettered Cottage

Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
A Stroll Thru Life/Tabletop Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
Coastal Charm/Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
DIY by Design/Fall into Fall
2805/Potpourri Friday
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home/Show and Tell Friday
No Minimalist Here/Open House Party
Savvy Seasons/Autumn Arrives Party

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday 26 September 2011

Week 23 ~ Diamonds In The Rough!

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.
This week, I was able to nab some good furniture to transform this winter. Here's my loot for the week.


This will be a fun chair to transform. Don't kill me, but it had a matching side chair that I didn't get. Crazy, I know.


I will have fun with this

Sunday 25 September 2011

White Bookcase Breathes New Life!

I found a Diamond In The Rough!

It was a vintage bookcase with bad bleed-through! It cost $35 and included the wood shelves, door and some new, unused glass shelves. It needed a lot of love. The lady had misplaced the original hardware, so I will have to find some replacements.

What do you do when you have bleed-through of the stained wood or knot holes through the paint? You seal the whole

Thursday 22 September 2011

Around the House...Halloween and Fall Decor!



I used an antique yellow-ware bowl for a fall floral arrangement.
I have been working on decorating for the fall and some of my Halloween decor is out. I thought I would share with you what I have done so far.



Vinyl BOO was added to the fake pumpkin.







These ornaments are old jello molds that I hand painted for the fall.





Be Thankful on this pumpkin is metal scrapbooking word

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Week 22 ~ Diamonds In The Rough! Part 2

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.

This is Part 2 of my week of treasures! There was so much that I had to break it up for you. In Part 2, I will share what happened when I answered an ad in the paper for a night stand. Most of this will be sold in my booth!


This is what our CRV looked

Tuesday 20 September 2011

A Mirror of Roses!

On a recent treasure hunt, I found an old mirror that was made of some kind of plastic to look like real wood. I thought the roses were pretty and would look much better spray painted Heirloom White.

I thought that I took a picture but I guess I didn't because I can't seem to find it. Something that I always regret because the change is usually dramatic and the outcome so much better. Here is

Week 22 ~ Diamonds In The Rough! Part 1

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.

This is Part 1 of my week of treasures! There was so much that I had to break it up for you. In Part 1, I will share garage sale treasures and what I did with some of it already.


Last week, I found a cute child's teaset but the creamer was missing. This

Monday 19 September 2011

Fall Sitting Room

Come on in to our *Fall* sitting room! 

Soooo, I've recently changed things up a bit in here to welcome the new season.  For starters, I painted one coat of Old White on top of my recently painted bookcase (BM White Dove).  I then distressed it and added clear wax.  I also removed the ottoman and replaced it with a super inexpensive higher table, which I then covered in drop cloth and then added a piece of burlap on top of that:


A simple Fall floral bunch sits in the red pitcher on the table:


I also added a bit of warmth and contrast to the bookcase by lining it with craft paper that I had on hand (pretty pumpkin courtesy of Pier One):


A super inexpensive pillow from years past was added to the white slipcovered sofa to spread a bit of warmth over there, too:


A leaf married a book page ... moved into a frame I had on hand and now they lay comfortably on an itchy piece of burlap:


In my IKEA pots, I replaced the greenery with pumpkins and raffia, and then I painted little discs "AS Old White," hot glued glittery brown numbers on them and then hot glued those onto the pots:


Love the afternoon sunlight streaming in:


And, off in the background, two leaf placemats (purchased a few years ago from Home Goods) have been attached to my mirrors:


And, LOOKIE, at my new piece de resistance!  I've been looking ... and looking ... and LOOKING for a mirrored chest, withOUT the expensive price tag.  So, I was more than thrilled to have recently spied this beauty at Tuesday Morning, at an affordable price ... couldn't get it home fast enough! 


Isn't she perty ... angles and all(?) ... bounces the light beautifully!


And, there you have it ... for *now,* anyway.  LOL!


Thank you so much for stopping by!  Come party with me:

Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
YATTM/Linky Party
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
No Minimalist Here/Open House Party
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
Savvy Seasons/Autumn Arrives Party

Flea Market Fleas

How many of us out there have been dreaming of doing something or going somewhere and think, "maybe someday"! Well that "someday" came for Hubby and me.  We have been wanting to
go to the Third Sunday Market ever since we heard about it.

The Third Sunday Market is a HUGE flea market held in Bloomington, IL on the third Sunday of the month through Oct. And to top it off, the prices were very

Friday 16 September 2011

White Iron Chair

You may recall the post that I did on the black iron chair, but if you don't, this is what the finished chair looks like...it is for sale in my booth. I also have a matching white one...




This is the Before picture of the chairs from a garage sale.



This is the chair that I kept for my front porch. I painted it white again to freshen the paint. I found exterior fabric and upholstered the

Peacock on a pot

As I promised in a last post so here I am with an inspiration for u all lovely friends to transform those boring and dull pots into chic and beautiful planters. Sharing pics of few pots that I have done last week.




For second pot I chose to draw a peacock.......work in progress.....


And here is the final product......



Image is not doing justice as this pot is looking more b'ful than this pic. Now my heart is dancing like a peacock in rains :-)





Thursday 15 September 2011

Rain, Sunshine & Blooming Beauties

Please friends forgive me for not talking about design, decor and related inspirations. Actually I'm lost in beauty of nature. My heart leaps with joy whenever I see how nature changes its mood in a jiffy.
Sometimes only dark overcast of clouds and sometimes it mixes with sunshine.

 And thats not enough, what makes me more happy is view of my garden..........blooms and plants sunkissed and completely drenched in rain...what a lovely combination.





Sunshine & Rain .............




I really feel blessed. Here I am making a promise that next post will be an inspiratinal one. So freinds do visit this space.